Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-10-09
The RlUHMoND DIsPATOR. SUNDAY OCTOBER 8. 1897.

Il
appear, you can rest assured that your
salary1l promptly be raised" :,
cts a CO." replied Porter cat
him Porter, although that wasn't his
name" when / was leaving st. Lo1is
] assured the boys as | babe them good
by that wasn't coming back. SO | in
tend to stay in Chicago. think l can
sell goods, Mr.. Holbrook, aud hope TO
bring you 10 the same opinion. I'll be-
gin at $40 month"
As | have said, there was something
about the young man that was prepos-
sessing in spite OF his looking little
too much like dude. SO l engaged
him at $40 o month. convinced that |
had about got his measure. Well, sir,
be started in the next day like a
steam-engine. He went through our
stock as il he were q detective whose
reputation depends upon his not
missing anything. In an amazingly
short time he was master of all
the preliminaries, and then he
went about selling goods with the
same assiduity. DE would watch
for customer as vigilantly as a cat
watches for a mouse, and once o man
got into bis hands he was gone-he hal
TO buy to get rid Of Porter. A couple
of months after he entered the store we
received from New York consignment
of new and very handsome line OF
goods. No sooner were the samples
displayed among the clerks than two or
three OF them came TO rue and said
they thought they would like to go
out on the road for q week-they were
sure they could secure a good many
orders for these goods. "All right" l
said, and off they went. A week later
one Of them returned. He was one OF
our oldest statesmen and had been
making trip through Southern Hi
nois. "What success?" / inquired
He replied with rather crest-falleu
look that as yet he hadn't disposed of
any of the goods, but that his custom
ers were pleased with tho samples he
showed them, and were likely to send
in their orders later.
l think Porter heard this CONVERSE
ton. At all events he came to me that
afternoon and remarked that he wished
/ would spare him for few days.
"Ive got some customers down in
Southern Illinois, Mr.. Holbrook, and [
think | could sell some of those new
goods"
"All right, Porter" said I, and of
be went.
"Well, sir, he was back inside of a
week, and in that time he sold
won't venture to say from memory how
many cases OF goods. But | remem-
Der he did surprisingly well. And
what made his success the more re-
markable he got his orders in the very
towns which my old salesman that
l have mentioned worked to no
purpose. Along came Porter's
kilograms, Send two cases here,
send four cases there send six cases
yonder, etc. On his return l invited
him to come into my private Office and
congratulated him on the work he'd
done. He seemed gratified at my com
mendation, but about ali he said was
" thought could sell some goods for
you, Mr.. Holbrook." Then | spoke to
him about the largest order he had Sc
cured. Ills eyes lit up and he re-
marked:
at was a tough job getting that Or
der. / thought at first was going to
lose it,"
Glow 500"
"Well, | went into the mans store
and talked to him most Of tho afternoon,
but | couldn't fetch him. He said he
liked the goods, he didn't kick at the
price, but he wouldn't decide. | went
back to my hotel disappointed, bat
after supper | felt better and doter-
mined I'd go up TO his home and make
him socla! call, so that he wouldn't
forget me, you see ?"
"Yes, | see."
"Well, in the evening called around
to his house about 8 O'clock. l didn't
know him or any OF his folks, and
naturally felt little embarrassed.
Naturally"
"Yes, but told him that disliked
hanging around hotel and took the
liberty OF calling on him. He an
swered the door bell himself, aud
seemed glad to see me. He had four
pretty daughters, and he introduced
me to them, and pretty soon mo aud
the girls were singing some popular
songs, as nice rs you please"
" [ didn't know that you sang, Por-
ter"
go, I sing a little, Mr.. Holbrook /
find it helps IN selling goods. Wen,
after the songs sat down at the piano
and played the girls new waltz or two
hat they hadn't heard, and then | felt
hat we were real good friends"
AID so you are piano-player?"
"We1, | manage to do few tunes
find it helps in our business, Mr. Hol-
brook. The girls father sat by and
,eemsd to be greatly entertained with
he music, and when / got mp from the
piano he thanked me heartily. Don't
peak Of it, said |. Then the girls andlI
got talking about one thing and an-
,ther, and pretty soon noticed a banjo |
in one corner decked out in |
bright ribbons. | ssked the girls which |
me Of them played on it, and they said |
hey got it for ornament, and that none |
II them could play on it. SO, greatly |
o their delight, got down the banjo |
Nd gave them lesson on it,
"lhen the banjo is another OF your
accomplishments. Porter?"
81 can pick the strings a little, Mr..
find it helps in selling
,oods. Well, stayed until IL o'clock, |
nd when took my leave the father
nd all his girls came to the door with
ne and politely invited me to call again
ghen came to town. L didn't see their
mother. l presume she is dead, but |
lidn't think it proper to ask. Next
lay went 10 the mans store bright
nd early. He tried to beg off with
aking one case of the goods, but l
hear of it. take six or
othing, said / 4; zone case will help to
ell another. Finally Ire gave in, and
ran to the telegraph Office and sent